Patent GB-588299-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in apparatus for transporting articles from one station to another
IPC: F41A9/03
Filed: 1944-09-06
Abstract: 588,299. Screw conveyers. NICHOLLS, K. H., TINDALE, J., GILBERT, J. A., and ROSE BROS. (GAINSBOROUGH), Ltd. Sept. 6, 1944, No. 17080. [Class 78(i)] [Also in Group XXI] In a screw conveyer a feeler is moved by each article in turn as it reaches the delivery station to actuate controlling mechanism which stops the conveyer. The conveyer is described as applied to the feeding of ammunition to the loading station of a quickfiring gun of substantial calibre, e.g. 40 m.m. Each charger, which contains four rounds is placed on a pivoted feeding tray 51, Fig. 2, for delivery to a screw conveyer 12 in a casing 11 which carries it to the gun loading station 14. The axis of the conveyer is not vertical as shown in the figure, but is inclined thereto. The hollow conveyer shaft 16 is coupled to the rotor 17 of an oil motor 18 to which oil is supplied by a pump driven by an electric motor 21. The motor 18 is controlled by a sleeve valve (not shown) which has three operative positions and is formed with an axial shank 22. A two-armed lever 25, 26 is pivoted on the shank and carries a roller 27 which runs on an annular cam track 28 secured to the stator of the motor and carrying a valve operating cam 29. The arm 25 is connected by a link 31 to a lever 32 which is pivotally mounted on the shaft 16 for movement about an axis parallel to the pivotal axis of the lever 25, 26. A roller 33 mounted on the free end of the lever 32 engages an annular member 67 which is disposed about the axis of the conveyer and is pivoted in a pair of brackets 66 depÚnding from the casing 11. A part 68 of the member 67 is maintained in engagement with a cam 64 by a spring 69. The cam 64 is carried at the lower end of a shaft 63, an arm 62, on which is pivoted to one of a pair of links 57. These links connect downward extensions 56 of the tray to a pivoted arm 58 carrying a roller 59 which bears against a cam 61 on the shaft 16. A rod 34 is arranged for sliding movement in the shaft 16 and has a lug 36, Fig. 1, at its lower end which engages with the underside of the lever 32. A lug 37 on the upper end of the rod engages with the upper side of an arm 38 which is pivoted to the casing 11 and carries a feeler 39 arranged for engagement by one of the rounds in each' charger as it reaches the loading station. Since the sleeve valve is spring-urged downwardly to the position in which the conveyer is driven to elevate the chargers, the arm 38 also is urged downwardly to the position it occupies when there is no charger at the loading station. As soon as a round engages the feeler 39, the arm 38 is raised and the conveyer stopped. The movement of the leading charger is accelerated as it approaches the feeler by replacing the terminal portion of the blade of the conveyer by a hinged plate 41 which normally forms a continuous surface with the screw. An arm 42 on the plate 41 carries a roller 43 which bears against a cam 44 mounted on the casing 11. This cam is designed to cause the plate 41 to pivot suddenly as a charger approaches the station. The hydraulic motor may be replaced by an electric motor and the controlling means may be electric switches arranged to be actuated by the feeler 39.